Circuit closing device



Sept. 10,1935. NEL N 2,014,286,

CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE Filed April 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7f1l/l/ III/11 Inventor N Y U ,ZfarbZd/Fisan Sept. 10, 1 935. H NELSON 5 I CIRCUIT CL-OSING DEVICE Filed April 18, 1952' 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Sept. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 606,049

This invention relates to an improved circuit controlling device for automobiles and the like. Briefly, the invention relies for distinctiveness, novelty on the specific construction and arrangement of mechanism especially chosen and organized to provide'a structure which will automatically sound an'audible alarm such as a horn if the automobile is tampered with by unauthorized persons.

.The preferred embodiment of the invention embodies a novel horn control switch brought into play automatically under the influence and instrumentality of an electromagnet, together with a thermostatic device for releasing the horn circuit switch after the horn has been sounded for a predetermined interval of time, such as would ordinarily be sufficient to enable ofiicers of the law to apprehend the thief.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the samei Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention showing the principal parts of the mechanism.

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal'section end elevation.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic electric circuit view.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view.

Figure 5 is a detail horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the illustrative drawings by distinguishing reference numerals it will be observed that the mechanism is housed within a suitable box like casing 8. Attached to an insulating plate I at one end of the casing is a stationary bracket 8 carrying a fixed contact 9 cooperable with a companion relatively movable contact ill on the free end of a flexible springsteel arm II. This arm has a curved end portion l2 with its extremity l3 anchored at the remote end of. the casing. At this point is an adjusting set screw 14 designed to regulate the rigidity of the arm to control the sensitivity of operation thereof. The curved end I2 is in the nature of a spring and the inherent resiliency of the horizontal portion of the arm itself is such as to be counterbalanced in a substantially buoyant state. The intermediate portion of the arm is provided with a U-shaped portion IS in which a lead weight I6 is mounted and this weight serves as a counterbalance making the arm sensitive to any movement of the automobile carrying the alarm. In other words any jar or shaking of the automobile caused by one stepping on the running board or entering the car would cause the arm to vibrate allowing the contacts 9 and 10 to come together.

These contacts are electrically connected to a suitable conductor l! with an electro-magnet l8 which is obviously energized the moment the contacts come together. The weight [5 has a steel bolt l6 extending therethrough so that the elec- 5- tro-magnet l8 will act on the head thereof to attract the weight l6 bringing the secondary contact IS on the arm down into electrical contacting relation with a transverse arcuate thermostatic strip 20. Incidentally this strip is mounted on a 10' bracket 2! to which current conductors 22 and 23 are connected as seen in Figure 4, these conductors being in turn electrically connected with the signal which is in the form of a horn 24 as seen in Figure 3. In Figure 3 I have shown the wiring 15 diagram wherein it will be observed that the main cut out switch is distinguished by the numeral 25 and the battery by the numeral 26, the battery wire being grounded on the arm as at 21.

The idea of the invention is to bring the con- 20 tacts 9 and Ill together when the arm ll shakes due to any bodily movement of the automobile whereby to energize the magnet and close the horn circuit make and break device comprising the contact l9 and associated thermostatic strip 25 v 20. Thermostatic strip is subjected to heat from a current passing therethrough and when the thermostatic switch bows upwardly under this thermostatic action it separates the contacts 9 and I0 allowing the electric magnet to be deen- 30 ergized and allowing the arm II to raise sufiiciently to break the horn circuit and stop the sounding of the horn. This is accomplished after the horn has been sounding for a limited predetermined period of time. I 35 As an added feature of the device I provide a mechanical cut off device which comprises a rock shaft 28 journalled in suitable bearings extending transversely of the casing underneath the arm I I within the vicinity of the electro-magnet, said 40 rock shaft being provided at one end with an operating crank 29 and having its intermediate portion provided with lifting cam 30 which when brought to an elevated position lifts the arm ll sufiiciently to throw the contact I out of operat- 45 ing range of the companion contact 9. Thus the device may be rendered temporarily inoperative by the use of the cam 30 or the electrical circuit may be thrown out of play by the main control switch 25. Obviously the wiring is appropriately 50 arranged to guard against tampering and the invention itself is so located as to prevent convenient access except from theinterior of the car by an authorized person.

The gist of the invention is in the provision of a relatively stationary contact whose sensitivity of operation may be controlled by the provision of a set screw 3| mounted in an appropriate bracket 32 wherein the contact 9 is regulated for cooperation with the contact In, the contact IIJ being carried on a flexible arm also adjustable and said arm being sensitive to movement due to its yieldable properties and also capable of being bodily pulled down and the elcctro-magnet i8 is energized. In order to energize the magnet two contacts 8 and I0 must come together and to do this the arm I I must be vibrated which is caused by bodily swinging or movement of the automobile. Thus we have a novel electro-magnet switch or circuit make and break device with adjustable features and a counterweight for producing the desired balance of the arm I l. Secondly there is the thermostatic make and break device affording appropriate circuit connection with the horn 24 so that it is sounded for a predetermined time whereupon the electro-magnet is automatically decncrgized and the parts allowed to resume a normal ineilective state. While the car is being run by an authorized driver the electro-circuit means may be thrown out through the medium of the switch 25 or the arm II may be moved to an ineffective raised position through the medium of an oscillatory cam 30,

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

A circuit maker and breaker comprising a casing, a stationary electrical contact mounted in said casing, an elongated strip spring having one end secured to the inside of the casing and having an electrical contact on its free end cooperative with said stationary contact, the secured end of the said strip spring being backwardly bent and attached to the said casing, a set screw for adjusting the bent end portion of the spring, said strip spring being provided with U-shaped offset portions adjacent the free end thereof, a counterbalance of electricity conductive material mounted between the U-shaped offset, an electro-magnet mounted within the casing below the said counterbalance and in magnetic relation therewith, a thermostatic element anchored at opposite ends, the end of said casing and underlying the free edge portion of said armature, sa d thermostatic element being adapted to actuate said armature to disengage the associated electrical contacts when they are in electrical contacting position, said thermostatic element being located between the said counterbalance and the contact on the free end of the strip spring.

HAROLD NELSON. 

